I thanked you, did I not, for all your kindness about the double sets of harness? But I must tell you again how well the leaders look in them. The two sorrels are particularly splendid. Go into Wood's some day this week and write me what you think of a carriage he has just built for me,--a small affair in which Aunt Nancy can drive to Warrentown, or I can send to the depot for a friend. All my heart to you, my dear Major. An open hand and a warm welcome is always yours at Carter Hall. Your ever obedient servant and honored friend, GEORGE FAIRFAX CARTER. With the Colonel's permission, then, I am privileged to usher you into his cosy dining-room in Bedford Place, there to enjoy the Virginian's rare hospitality. F. HOPKINSON SMITH. September 30, 1903. ILLUSTRATIONS _Katy dropped her head on his shoulder again_ _Frontispiece_ FACING PAGE "_Take them upstairs and put them on my dressin'-table_" 4 _Each guest had a candle alight_ 84 _And so the picture was begun_ 104 "_Promise me that you will stop the whole business_" 172 "_It is all her doing, Phil_" 205 COLONEL CARTER'S CHRISTMAS I "What am I gwine to do wid dese yere barkers, Colonel?" asked Chad, picking up his master's case of duelling pistols from the mantel. "I ain't tetched der moufs since I iled 'em up for dat Klutchem man." "Take them upstairs, Chad, and put them away," answered the Colonel with an indignant wave of the hand. "No chance o' pickin' him, I s'pose? Done got away fo' sho, ain't he?" The Colonel nodded his head and kept on looking into the fire. The subject was evidently an unpleasant one. "Couldn't Major Yancey an' de Jedge do nuffin?" persisted the old servant, lifting one of the pistols from the case and squinting into its polished barrel. "Eve'ything that a gentleman could do was done, Chad. You are aware of that, Major?" and he turned his head towards me--the Colonel will insist on calling me "Major." "But I am not done with him yet, Chad. The next time I meet him I shall lay my cane over his back. Take them upstairs and put them on my dressin' table. We'll keep them for some gentleman at home." The Colonel arose from his chair, picked up the decanter, poured out a glass for me and one for himself, replenished his long clay pipe from a box of tobacco within reach of his hand and resumed his seat again. Mention of Mr. Klutchem's name produced a form of restlessness in my host which took all his self-control to overcome. "--And, Chad." The old darky had now reached the door opening into the narrow hall, the case of pistols in his hand. "Yes, sah."